Rising Senior

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

Hello Can you please chance me for:

UCLA
UCB
U of M
HYPSM
Cornell

UW: 3.89ish (Huge Positive trend)
W: 4.27ish

Asian Male

How much will my freshman year hold me back?

SAT: 1570
SAT II: Math II 800, Chemistry 780, Bio: 790
AP: All 5’s (Human Geo, Chem, Calc, APUSH)

Freshman:

Human Geography AP B+/A-
9 Honors Literature and Composition B/B+
Precalc Honors A-/A
Bio A A-/A
Chem 1 A-/A
French 2 B/A-

Sophomore:

AP Chem A/A
GBBE (Adv.Bio Course) A/A
AP Calc BC A/A
APUSH A-/A
10 Honors L/C A/A-
Physics 1 A/A

Junior:

Calc III A/A
11 AP English A-/A
AP Biology A/A
AP Physics C A/A
AP Statistics A/A
AP World History A/A

Senior (Planned):

12 AP English
Organic Chem / Random Business Class (Requirement)
Physics 2 AP
Environmental Science AP
AP Econ
Computer Science 1/ AP Computer Science

Need to fit in one semester senior year for AP Gov, so I will summer school or test out.

Summer School: Geometry (8th grade summer), Civics (10th grade Summer), Something this year,
Test Out: Algebra 2, Health, Maybe something start of next year

Volunteering:
Volunteered 200+ Hours in school for underprivileged children in India.
Robotics Volunteer for helping at competitions (20-30)
Old Age Home (50)
Mentor for helping kids in Public Speaking (20-30)
NHS Tutoring

EC’s:
Blue Belt in Taekwondo (Probably Wont include) (9)
FRC Robotics Mechanical (9-11)
QuizBowl (9-11)
Math Team (Mu Alpha Theta) (9-11)
CS Club (9-11)
Forensics (10-11)
STUGO (10-11)
MUN (10-11)
NHS (11)

Sports:
JV Track (9)
JV Cross Country (10)
Varsity Track (10-11)
Varsity CX (11)

Mile Time: 4:40ish

Awards:
AIME- 2015-2016
USAMO: 2015-2016
USABO Semifinalist: 2015
USABO Finalist: 2016
USACO: Silver 2015
USAPHO Bronze: 2015

Thanks!

2

Why are you taking AP World History in both Junior and Senior years if you had received A’s in both semesters as a Junior? Was Physics 1 an AP course or just a local high school class? What are you planning on majoring in when you apply?

3

Sorry I messed up my planned courses, I accidentally copied it there again. Physics 1 was regular physics 2 & C are AP. Probably some engineering major.

4

As you know, all of the schools that you are applying to are crap shoots with low acceptance rates. However, you look to be in the competitive range for all these schools. Make sure that you have an interesting internship this summer so you can show schools your keen interest in Engineering. Also, do some more research on other schools with strong Engineering that have higher acceptance rates. Off the top of my head, UCSD and Santa Clara U (the private university) could be good match schools for you. Good luck.

5

Your stats are good. However, looking over your coursework, there seem to be some gaps.

  1. Many top colleges expect four years of a foreign language. Did you stop French after freshman year?
  2. Some also expect courses in visual and performing arts. I don't see any listed.

Here, for example, is the academic preparation info listed for Princeton:

If possible, we expect students will complete the following courses before beginning study at Princeton:

-four years of English (including continued practice in writing)
-four years of mathematics (including calculus for students interested in engineering)
***four years of one foreign language
-at least two years of laboratory science (including physics and chemistry for students interested in engineering)
-at least two years of history

In addition, most candidates have had some study in the visual or performing arts.

Here is the info for Harvard:

We hope you will read our thoughts about choosing high school courses that will provide a strong base for a liberal arts education. But in summary, we recommend:

  • The study of English for four years: close and extensive reading of the classics of the world’s literature ***Four years of a single foreign language
  • The study of history for at least two, and preferably three years: American history, European history, and one additional advanced history course -The study of mathematics for four years, including the particular topics described -The study of science for four years: physics, chemistry, and biology, and preferably one of these at an advanced level
  • Frequent practice in the writing of expository prose

Various important secondary school subjects, such as art and music, are not specifically mentioned in our recommendations. The omission of these subjects should not be interpreted as a value judgment. We are concerned only with secondary school subjects for which we have data that suggest they are specific prerequisites for college work.

6

1, Yes I stopped after freshman year as it wasn’t my best subject. I did one year in middle school. I am fluent in speaking 2 East Indian languages. Should I take French 3 next year?
2. I am taking fundamentals of art over the summer, and business counts as a fine art at my school. I am also did perform in 2 school plays.
3. I play the guitar out of school.

How much will my freshman year hold me back?

7

Can someone chance me for each school?

8

Can you take French 3 this summer and French 4 next year at school?

9

You’ll be competing against students with 4.0+ GPAs and top test scores and who have taken and done well in all five core content areas, including 4 years of foreign languages. You need to find out where you rank (officially/unofficially) compared to your classmates and where your college counselor will place you in his/her report (e.g. top 1% of class, top 5%, top 10%, etc.). That ranking is based on GPA. If many of your classmates had all As in their freshman year and continued with the most rigorous courseload throughout high school, your freshman grades will negatively affect you for the top colleges you have listed.

If your school uses Naviance, you can check to see the admissions outcomes for previous students at your school by inputting your stats (GPA/SAT). Be aware, though, that Naviance does not take into account factors such as URM, athletic recruits, etc. so use with a bit of caution.

Best of luck in the college admissions process!

10

I don’t think many people are weighing the USAMO qualification as much as they should be. USAMO is huge! Roughly half of USAMO qualifiers who apply to MIT make it in. (Saw from some CC post from a MIT adcom a while back) Your GPA is fine, especially with a positive trend. If I were you, the only thing I would be worried about right now is the (apparent) lack of leadership positions and dropping French. Try self studying for the AP French exam or taking the course in summer school.

Good luck!

11

Your app will get a serious look. But at the very top schools, that probably means your odds are 10% vs the admit rate of 5%. I’d add a couple of safeties (you have none now) and a couple more matches. And show serious interest in them.

12

Such great stats you have. Idk it seems like you have the edge here…

13

Thanks everyone! My school does not rank. Isn’t U of M a match at least?

14

How competitive is it to get into the Olympiads? Can you explain a little more

15

I think you’re good for all schools except HYPSM. The reason being is that many of the applicants to these schools will have similar test scores and matching, if not better, GPAs. Also, these schools like to see the student succeeding in things outside of school; you do that through XC, but I’m sure many kids participate in schools sports. Also, I don’t see any leardefship here. HYPSM want to pick out many “lopsided” students, or students that excel exponentially at one thing, in order to create a well rounded class. While you do have the numbers, your ECs are quite ordinary. Try out an internship or something this summer; that will hopefully give you a better edge.

16

USAMO is the top 250ish out out 400,000
USABO Finalist is top 20 out of 9000ish

I do have some leadership positions in my EC"S although non are that major. I will have more significant ones by nexy year.

17

Also I did Linear Algebra junior year.

18

bump